The spring semester finds many opportunities to celebrate the academic talents of Niagara students.  For accounting students, the Buffalo chapter of the New York State Society of Certified Public Accountants holds its annual Education Night Dinner each spring.

On April 24, 2018, Niagara had four accounting award winners and their guests in attendance to enjoy a lovely dinner at Salvatore’s Italian Gardens in Depew, N.Y.  This event honors the outstanding junior, senior and graduate accounting students from Western New York-area colleges and universities. Nine schools were in attendance this year. It also provides a forum where educators, students and practitioners can gather together.  

Niagara was well-represented at the dinner by four very talented students.

Michelle Talarczyk, from Webster, N.Y., received the NYSSCPA Award of Honor as the top graduating graduate student in accounting. She just graduated with her MBA graduating last Thursday, May 10. Talarczyk will begin her career in public accounting with Deloitte and Touche LLP as an audit associate in Buffalo.

Samantha Martineau, of Niagara Falls, received the NYSSCPA Award of Honor as the top graduating senior accounting student. She graduated in May 2018 with a double major in accounting and communication studies.  She plans to pursue her MBA at Niagara and will intern this summer for Deloitte Tax in Buffalo.

Niagara had a tie with two students receiving the John T. Kennedy Memorial Award for the top junior accounting student, as both Elizabeth Faxlanger and Carl Wagner Jr. each received the award.

Faxlanger is from Lockport and majoring in accounting and actuarial science. She is a member of several honor societies, including Beta Alpha Psi, Beta Gamma Sigma and Sigma Alpha Sigma, in addition to a member of the university Honors program. She is active on campus with the accounting society and the Commuter Advocacy Board.

Carl Wagner Jr., from Tonawanda, served in the United States Navy on the USS John S. McCain and the USS Ramage. He is pursuing his BBA in accounting at Niagara and plans to graduate in May 2019. He is a member of multiple national honor societies and participated in Niagara’s Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program.

Kyle Sentiff was unable to attend the event but received one of the 2017-2018 FAE Excellence in Accounting Scholarships.

Vince Agnello, chair of the accounting department, congratulated the students on their hard work and academic rigor and offered appreciation and thanks to the NYSSCPA for their continued commitment to the accounting profession.

“Since 1897, the NYSSCPA has been providing networking opportunities, CPE courses and conferences, the CPA Journal, and events such as the annual education dinner that continues to recognize excellence in WNY accounting students,” he said. “Our students-awardees are a great representation of the quality of Niagara’s accounting program.”